A propos
Notre conseil d'administration
Executive Committee
Alice Reis
Debby Orsini
Julie Mathieu
Renata Parente
Board Chair
Alice Reis
Alice grew up in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Seattle with her husband in 2013 where they fell in love with the nature and beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Alice is a dual French American citizen and is committed to passing on the French language and culture to her three children. Her son graduated NSFS in 2024 and her two daughters are current students. Alice works as an architect and in her free time enjoys discovering new trails, beaches and farm stands, travel, and time with family.
Vice Chair
Debby Orsini
Debby lived in Washington, D.C. until 2020 when she moved to Seattle to live with her daughter and 3 grandsons who are NSFS students. She retired in 2021 after 30 years in international development, with travels to over 100 countries focusing on strategic planning and program evaluation. Debby studied in Paris for two years and enjoyed using her language skills in her development work in francophone countries. She is a firm believer in the value of bilingual and cross-cultural education. She enrolled her six daughters in the Lycée Rochambeau in Washington, D.C., where she also served as head of the parents’ association and board member for six years.
Secretary
Julie Mathieu
Julie was born and raised in France. After obtaining her PhD in cellular biology in Paris, she arrived in Seattle in 2008 and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. She is now an AssistantProfessor at the University of Washington. Julie and her husband share a profound commitment to raising their two sons in a bilingual environment. Since 2016, when their first child started in the petite section, they have been actively involved in the NSFS community. Both her children are currently attending NSFS. In her free time, Julie enjoys reading, hiking, camping and kayaking.
Treasurer
Renata Parente
Renata is French-Brazilian, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has lived in Seattle since 2010 after living in Chile, Portugal, India, Egypt, and France where she finished high school and started college. In every country she lived, she attended immersive French schools creating a strong connection with the French community and culture. Renata earned a General Engineering degree from EPF Ecole d’ingenieurs in France and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, FL. She has worked in multiple design and production engineering roles in the automotive and aerospace industry in France and the USA. Her son started attending NSFS in Kindergarten in 2020. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Board Committee Chairs & General Trustees
Margaux Eng
Katie Van Horne
Elliot Flautt
Andrew Martin
Fundraising Chair
Margaux Eng
Margaux (she/her) was born and raised in Seattle. She attended Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington, and pursued a career in technology. Her husband is French, and she and her husband decided to raise their two sons as bilingual in French and English. In her free time, Margaux enjoys working with non-profit organizations in the areas of affordable housing, sustainable living and education as well as spending time with her family, traveling and eating!
DEIB Chair
Katie Van Horne
Katie grew up in Northern California and moved to the Pacific Northwest for college, earning her undergraduate degree from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Human Development from the University of Washington. She now lives in Snohomish County with her partner, Mike, their twins, and the family dog. Katie leads Concolor Research, where she draws on her background as a design researcher and learning scientist to explore how people, systems, and technologies support meaningful learning. She brings curiosity, empathy, and collaboration to every project and values being part of the NSFS community and its commitment to language learning and global connection.
Facilities Chair
Elliot Flautt
Elliot became Seattleite in 2017 and lives in Ballard with his wife. He is a graduate of the Atlanta International School where he completed his International Baccalaureate Bilingual Diploma in French. A bilingual speaker of French and English, Elliot then taught both languages at a primary school in Rwanda. In his free time, Elliot enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Elliot currently works as a Director at Tyler Technologies.
Board Member
Andrew Martin
Originally from Los Angeles, Andrew ventured to the Pacific Northwest in 2022 to pursue professional and educational opportunities. He holds degrees in Engineering from Cal State Long Beach and USC, and is currently pursuing an MBA with the University of Washington. Andrew’s professional background includes a decade-long career in the commercial aviation industry, where he has worked in the areas of design, customer support, product development, and regulatory administration. His passion for bilingual education led him to serve as a Board Fellow for North Seattle French School, where he became inspired by the great work the organization was accomplishing. Andrew now serves as a General Board Member and is eager to continue fulfilling the mission of cultivating a globally-minded community in the Greater Seattle area. In his free time, Andrew enjoys frequenting the Seattle hiking trails, parks, and beaches with his wife and two dogs.
Advisory Members
Celia Beasley
Virginie Volpe
Jennifer Thiebaud
Nate Kimball
Kirk W. Laughlin
Donna Clawson
Josh Tintes
Founder - Alumni
Celia Beasley
Born to an American father and French mother, Celia is a native of Oakland, CA, where she attended Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley for nine years, including as a student in the school’s pioneering middle school class. The global perspective Celia acquired and the lifelong friendships she fostered there made her passionate about giving a similar experience to her own children, as well as others. Her daughter was part of the pioneering class in 2013. Her son graduated in 2022. Celia works as a multimedia professional, producing and editing film, television and video.
Founder
Virginie Volpe
Born and raised in France, Virginie first came to Seattle to attend Shoreline Community College. She then attended Seattle University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in international business and also met her husband, a Seattle native. After several years working in the semiconductor industry, Virginie acquired a Six Sigma Certification, and in 2008, became president of Volpaia Consulting LLC. Virginie has two children who both attended NSFS from K to 5th grade.
Executive
Jennifer Thiebaud
Jennifer is a Seattle native who fell in love with France as an exchange student at age 16. Her husband is a French national, and both of their children graduated from NSFS in 2020 and 2022. After a decade of service on the NSFS’s Executive Committee, including as Community Chair and Board Chair, Jennifer joined the Advisory Board in 2026. She holds a degree in International Relations and has worked in school admissions, teaching, academic advising, and event planning. For more than a decade, she has specialized in corporate social responsibility, helping protect human rights in global manufacturing, first at a Fortune 500 company and now as a director at a consulting firm.
Finance
Nate Kimball
Nate was born and raised in Seattle, and his passion for the French language began in high school and continues today. While rooted in the Pacific Northwest, he has also lived in Iowa and Texas and spent time in France. His partner is French, and his son graduated from NSFS in 2026. Nate served on the NSFS Board of Trustees for eight years as Finance Chair before joining the Advisory Board. He holds an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and has held engineering, planning, and management roles in telecommunications. He enjoys travel, family, and friends.
Fundraising
Kirk W. Laughlin
Kirk has been a fundraiser in the Seattle area since 1994 and has worked in the independent school sector since 2017 when he joined Academy for Precision Learning as Director of Advancement. Previously, he led fundraising, community relations and government affairs for organizations such as Seattle Children’s Museum, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Youth Eastside Services and Pacific Science Center. He holds a BA and MA in English from the University of Idaho and a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. And he has been a nonprofit board trustee and advisory council member for local and regional nonprofits for over 10 years, including The Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the University District Rotary Club. Kirk enjoys long-distance running and would love to talk with you about Star Trek and Blade Runner trivia. He lives in North Seattle with his sons and wife.
Finance
Donna Clawson
Originally from Poland, Donna has lived and worked in New York, Paris and London before moving to Seattle in 2018. Her experiences include organizations like Finastra, Wellcome Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Ernst & Young LLP, and she is now the Chief Financial Officer for FISW (French Immersion School of Washington). She holds a Master of Science in Accountancy/Business from St. John’s University in New York. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. Donna enjoys exploring beautiful PNW, photography, performing arts, literature, cooking, and baking; ideally spending ‘freeish’ time by sharing these passions with her two daughters and her husband.
Human Resources
Josh Tintes
Fondateurs
Virginie Volpe
Celia Beasley
Paul Olivier
Dana Short
Founder
Virginie Volpe
Born and raised in France, Virginie first came to Seattle to attend Shoreline Community College. She then attended Seattle University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in international business and also met her husband, a Seattle native. After several years working in the semiconductor industry, Virginie acquired a Six Sigma Certification, and in 2008, became president of Volpaia Consulting LLC. Virginie has two children who both attended NSFS from K to 5th grade.
Founder - Alumni
Celia Beasley
Born to an American father and French mother, Celia is a native of Oakland, CA, where she attended Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley for nine years, including as a student in the school’s pioneering middle school class. The global perspective Celia acquired and the lifelong friendships she fostered there made her passionate about giving a similar experience to her own children, as well as others. Her daughter was part of the pioneering class in 2013. Her son graduated in 2022. Celia works as a multimedia professional, producing and editing film, television and video.
Founder
Paul Olivier
Paul is a dual citizen, born and raised in Toronto, Canada to an American mother and French father. He spearheaded the committee to find a permanent home for NSFS, and his older daughter was part of the pioneering class in 2013. As a professional, Paul splits his time between working as a scientist and inventor and as an entrepreneur raising funding in a start-up biotech company. Paul enjoys family outdoor time, cooking, parenting, and making lattes for his wonderful wife every morning. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in molecular biology and genetics.
Founder
Dana Short
Prior to joining the NSFS team in the spring of 2013, Dana worked in the fashion industry for 28 years, most recently as a regional account coordinator and customer service trainer for a Fortune 500 company. If asked, Dana would tell you that the highlight of her career is when she began working at the Ecole Bilingue de Seattle, where she happily gets paid in hugs. Dana served on the Executive Board of Directors for three years, with a focus on communications, administration and the launch of the maternelle program (preschool). In her spare time, Dana likes to dream up crazy adventures for her husband and daughter.
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